Article

Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog aptly proud on first pilot ship


by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 5 April 2020 347 -

Pilot Boat "Mira" in the port of Lauwersoog (Photo: Steven Radersma/RTV Noord)

They are very proud at Next Generation Shipyards in Lauwersoog:
the brand-new tender for the Dutch Pilotage is ready in the harbor. Costs: 3.5 million euros.

Pilot tenders are used to transport pilots to and from large seagoing vessels. Twenty of these tenders sail along the Dutch coast. Five will have to be replaced in the coming years.

Follow-up order
The 'Mira' is the first of those five. Trial runs are currently being carried out, after which the ship will be handed over to the client.
Once it has been definitively proven that the ship meets all the conditions, they will be allowed to build two more of these ships in Lauwersoog in the first instance. Then another two.

Doubling the turnover
Shipyard owner Albert Keizer previously calculated that this order doubles turnover.
He is proud of the slender ship: 'It's a very special assignment', he says glowingly. It is an enormous reference for us all over the world that we were able to build this ship, which was designed by a renowned Irish firm.

Fuel savings
What's so special about it? It has been completely redesigned and, in collaboration with our engineering, an enormous weight saving has been achieved. Together with the optimal shape of the hull, this results in enormous fuel savings. You can count on 200,000 to 300,000 liters per year'.

That doesn't mean that the pilot tender doesn't have enough 'power': the ship sails at 30 knots with ease.
What's your opinion on this?
Login or register to write comments and join the discussion!
Read more...

Video How to Launch a Pilot Boat–Behind the Scenes at Point Hope Shipyard

published on 20 June 2025

Welcome to Point Hope Shipyard in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. In this video, I follow the float off of the Pacific Navigator, a hardworking pilot boat that serves the Port of Victoria and Ogden Point. We watch as the vessel is pulled along the marine railway, rotated on the turntable, and positioned onto the cradle. Once secured, the cradle lowers to float-off depth, and the Pacific Navigator fires up her engines for a short harbour spin before returning to duty. Some segments,...

0

Video You Won’t Believe How A Pilot Boat Is Hauled Out for Refit

published on 24 September 2025

The Pacific Guardian pilot boat is first seen in Victoria Harbour near Ogden Point before making her way to Point Hope Maritime Shipyard for a full refit. This video captures the entire move process, from the cradle lowering into the harbour, to the careful docking of the vessel, to her move across the turntable and onto the spur line. Some of the footage has been sped up, since the cradle lowering and lifting are slow, deliberate operations where every movement is checked and rechecked....

0

Video Estonian Pilot Boat AHTO 02

published on 2 December 2021

Parnu.Estonia

0

Video Corryvreckan Maelstrom & Thunder Child II documentary

published on 28 July 2020

Safehaven Marine undertook an 800nm 4 day cruise in Thunder Child II to Scotland, living off the boat to visit a place called the Gulf of Corryvreckan. A pretty wild yet beautiful place. The Corryvreckan whirlpool, or ‘Maelstrom’, as would be a more appropriate description, is formed as the tide enters the narrow stretch of water between the Islands of Jura and Scarba that is the Gulf of Corryvreckan. Here the tidal flow speeds up to 8.5kts as it is squeezed between the islands, and there...

1

Video Pilot Boat "Petrel" (River Mersey)

published on 16 December 2021

River Mersey Pilot Boat going slowly inbound on the river before turning and heading northbound again.

0

Video Is this a dangerous manoeuvre in a Pilot Boat?

published on 26 October 2020

Editors note: A film of a pilot boat has just been published on YouTube with the title "How Dangerous being in a Pilot Boat..." on YouTube. I'm not sure if this really shows a dangerous maneuver, maybe the experts can comment on it here.
But in principle it is problematic to approach the ship in such a small Pilot Boat in the wake from astern and cross the waves there. I remember an accident from Finland in December 2017 where the boat capsized and people died. Is this situation shown here...

1

Article ABP invests around £9 million in state-of-the-art pilot boat fleet

by Marine-Pilots.com - published on 9 November 2020

Associated British Ports (ABP) the UK’s largest and best-connected port operator, has commissioned a fleet of nine new state-of-the art pilot boats from Goodchild Marine Services, representing an investment of around £9 million to further enhance port operations across its network.

1

Video Puerto cabello Pilot Boat

published on 24 April 2021

0

Video Why Can't Ships Reverse Around Corners?

published on 20 September 2024

This video explores the question of why ships are so difficult to manoeuvre in reverse.

0

Article Crowley Completes First U.S. Design for Fully Electric Tug

published on 21 April 2021

Crowley Engineering Services has completed the design of the first fully electric U.S. tugboat with autonomous technology — providing operators a sustainable and high-performing solution for ship assist and harbor services in any port.

0